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Pope John Paul's letter of condolence addressed to the American people:
I cannot begin this audience without expressing my profound sorrow at the terrorist attacks which yesterday brought death
and destruction to America, causing thousands of victims and injuring countless people. To the President of the United States
and to all American citizens I express my heartfelt sorrow. In the face of such unspeakable horror we cannot but be deeply
disturbed. I add my voice to all the voices raised in these hours to express indignant condemnation, and I strongly reiterate
that the ways of violence will never lead to genuine solutions to humanity's problems.
Yesterday was a dark day
in the history of humanity, a terrible affront to human dignity. After receiving the news, I followed with intense concern
the developing situation, with heartfelt prayers to the Lord. How is it possible
to commit acts of such savage cruelty?
The human heart has depths from which schemes of unheard-of ferocity sometimes emerge, capable of destroying in a moment the
normal daily life of a people. But faith comes to our aid at these times when words seem to fail. Christ's word is the only
one that can give a response to the questions which trouble our spirit. Even if the forces of darkness appear to prevail,
those who believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say. Christian hope is based on this truth; at this
time our prayerful trust draws strength from it.
With deeply felt sympathy I address myself to the beloved people
of the United States in this moment of distress and consternation, when the courage of so many men and women of good will
is being sorely tested. In a special way I reach out to the families of the dead and the injured, and assure them of my spiritual
closeness. I entrust to the mercy of the Most High the helpless victims of this tragedy, for whom I offered Mass this morning,
invoking upon them eternal rest. May God give courage to the survivors; may he sustain the rescue-workers and the many volunteers
who are presently
making an enormous effort to cope with such an immense emergency. I ask you, dear brothers and sisters,
to join me in prayer for them. Let us beg the Lord that the spiral of hatred and violence will not prevail. May the Blessed
Virgin, Mother of Mercy, fill the hearts of all with wise thoughts and peaceful intentions.
Today, my heartfelt
sympathy is with the American people, subjected yesterday to inhuman terrorist attacks which have taken the lives of thousands
of innocent human beings and caused unspeakable sorrow in the hearts of all men and women of good will. Yesterday was indeed
a dark day in our history, an appalling offence against peace, a terrible assault against human dignity.
I invite
you all to join me in commending the victims of this shocking tragedy to Almighty God' s eternal love. Let us implore his
comfort upon the injured, the families involved, all who are doing their utmost to rescue survivors and help those affected.
I ask God to grant the American people the strength and courage they need at this time of sorrow and trial.
The Holy Father
"Open Letter To A Terrorist"
Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the Pentagon, but you missed America. You used helpless
American bodies, to take out other American bodies, but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America.
Why? Because
of something you guys will never understand.
America isn't about a building or two, not about financial centers,
not about military centers. America isn't about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of bodies. America is about an
IDEA. An idea, that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you can figure out how to....live
for the most
part like you envisioned living, and pursue happiness. (No guarantees that you'll reach it, but you can sure try!)
Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany: "If you can not see my point, then feel
my pain." This concept is alien to Americans. We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But you're
free to have one. We don't have to listen to your speech. But you're free to say one.
Don't know where you got
the strange idea that everyone has to agree with you. We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter
of pride. We're a collection of people that don't agree, called States. We united our individual states to protect ourselves
from tyranny in the world. Another idea we made up on the spot. You CAN make it up as you go, when it's your country. If
you're free enough. Your people seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in America, America lives in US!
American
Spirit is what it's called. And killing a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it. Most
of the time, it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit. Until we're crossed in a cowardly manner, then it becomes an entirely
different kind of Spirit.
Wait until you see what we do with that Spirit, this time.
Sleep tight, if
you can. We're coming.
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Messages and Prayers from the Filipino Chat Room Society Emails, Lobby and Message Board:
My mind still cannot wrap itself around what has occurred in our great nation. The audacity (bravery or courage) it must take
to strike such a "target" and those who have vowed to serve their fellow man in the fashion of Fire, EMS, and Law
Enforcement is so profound.
In every Firefighter’s final call they rushed in as they had so many times before.
This time however, they paid the ultimate price. They had always been there for others, but now we gather for them. This we
do to pay our respects for our heroes; not because they died, but because they lived and served their fellow man well. As
we pay our respect we pause and realize that for some greater reason unknown to us, there lies our heroes instead of us. Words
alone cannot express the intense sorrow and yet, overwhelming pride that is felt.
It’s amazing how everyone is
coming together in this time of tragedy. A month ago all you heard was bickering about stupid issues compared to the ones
we are faced with the present time. It is just amazing how something like this can happen. Two beautiful buildings that lit
up the NYC skyline are no longer there.
September 11, 2001, is a day we shall all remember in all our hearts and
souls. The emotions are all on the surface, great grief in our hearts for our fallen brothers and sisters, for the police
and their fallen comrades, for the city and its faithful residents.
The RAGE at those who could have the disregard
for life that we fight so hard to protect and to serve. The shock of seeing and for those are there, feeling the devastation.
The grief of finding or not finding our brothers and sisters. The love and support we receive from those still with us. The
pride for our comrades, for they have made the ultimate sacrifice helping and serving our fellowmen...
THEY ARE
IN HEAVEN NOW WITH GOD AND STILL DOING HIS WORK FOR WE HOLD THEM IN OUR HEARTS AND WHEREVER WE GO WE TAKE THEM WITH US.
From: -Lady Godiva-
My outmost sympathy to the family of the victims from the hijackings. My mixed feelings of mourning and anger cries out to
God in prayers. My silence represents my offering of lamentation. I pray that the Lord God be your Refuge, Comforter and Stregnth
throughout this sorrowful moment. Most of all, I am rest assured that vengeance is God's promised to those who have done this
dreadful act to His own precious child, "America". From, Kizzez...
Dear Heavenly Father, We are moved by the alarming news and crisis that our country is facing. This is the greatest nation,
founded in the belief that "In God We Trust" the Land of the Free Please have mercy on those suffering, hurting
and in fear, and give wisdom, strength to those who are assisting. May the forces of evil be broken by your power and may
we be humble before thee, our strength and refuge.
Give wisdom to our President, our leaders and bring your comforting
peace through the power of your Holy Spirit. Help us reach out to those that have been affected by this tragedy In the name
of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. AMEN
From: quizzybabe_1
Lord, I pray for our country right now, that each of them would feel your presence, and your comfort and that they would know,
that even in the chaos and the unknown, that you are in control of each of our lives ,and that you love us all. We are all
in so much shock, Lord, our lives have been shaken, though we are not actually physically at the places that have been devastated.
Help us each to find comfort in you and help us to feel your presence as we learn more and more details as the hours and days
go by. Be with the victims, the emergency personnel, and our leaders in government.Guide them, and comfort them as they continue
to
face the horror of this tragedy. I pray this all in the
powerful name of Jesus. Amen... From:Roses R Red
Heavenly Father despite the vastness of your creation, you have put us together tonight to plan what we can do to help those
victims in this terrible tragedy. I ask thee for thy blessing and guidance. I ask that you bless each and everyone gathered
here tonight, from Chat Rooms Owners, Admin, Hosts, Guests, friends and supporters. Guide each and everyone so that we could
come out for a better solution. Bless those who are on there way to join us later, and guide them too so that they could
be of help.
We pray for those individuals who experience a tremendous loss on September 11. We share with them the
helplessness as we watch the tragedy unfold. We ask thee for thy guidance and blessings.
We also ask for thy blessing
and guidance for those countless paramedic, police officers, firemen, and volunteers who at this moment still fighting an
uphill battle to save as many live possible.
Lastly we ask for thy blessings and guidance as we pray that you must
administer a righteous direction for our leaders, so they may also come out with a peaceful solution to end this grave adversity
Heavenly Father we end this prayer with thy promised that in God we trust our daily lives…Amen FROM:Louie
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BAYAN International-USA Expression of Condolence and Grief...
We, in BAYAN International-USA, express our deepest sorrow and extend our most profound condolences to all the families of
the victims of the very unfortunate tragedy last September 11 in New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia.
As Filipino-Americans
or Filipinos who opted to be residents of this country, no amount of words can express our condemnation, shock and grief over
the carnage. We can not condone such barbaric that snapped away probably tens of thousands of innocent lives in the these
places where many
of our compatriots also live.
We fervently hope that this terrible tragedy will galvanize our
whole nation into reaffirming the democratic principles that this nation was built on. That this incident will highlight
more the end and finding means and resources to end senseless bigotry, racial hatred and discrimination that foment such tragedy
and loss of lives and property.
We support the call for justice to the victims of this monstrous act by bringing
the perpetrators into the established court of law, while we also express our profound wish that this tragedy will not be
used to scapegoat the innocent, especially our Muslim brothers and sisters, trample on the sovereignty of other nations and
be a start of a terrible witch hunt or military adventure that will only benefit the extremists and take away precious resources
that should be allotted for the less fortunate of our people.
The United States of America, as our adopted country,
our home away from home, opened to us opportunities that are illusive in our own home country, hence, we assume to be our
responsibility in uniting with all the people in America the resolve that the tragedy will unite us in one purpose – the
ultimate
good of all, of us as one nation- with liberty and justice.
On this day of National Prayer and Remembrance, we offer
to you our love and prayers.
BAYAN Int'l-USA
PO Box 862546
Los Angeles, CA 90086-2546
<byn_us@hotmail.com>
A Reflection From My Parish Priest, Fr. Joe Meinhart, St. Thomas More
What happened on Tuesday is beyond words. The horror and evil, the destructiveness and inhumanity of those events is numbing.
I pray daily for the victims, those families and loved ones affected, our nation’s leaders, and the rescue workers (many of
whom I worked with in the bombing in Oklahoma City and some of whom I now fear may be dead). I also pray for justice.
Some have spoken of revenge. Others have spoken of the need to act on our righteous anger. Because of my faith, I believe
that revenge, however tempting, is wrong, always. I am not sure what is meant by this phrase “righteous anger “. My parents,
who taught me all I hold dear about God, never taught me to be righteously angry. My protestant upbringing does not speak
of righteous anger. It is not found in the confessions or catechisms of the Methodist or Reformed traditions which have so
formed the faith I still carry in my heart. It is not mentioned in the catechism of the Catholic church. The scriptures, while
not denying the reality of anger as a feeling, view any expression of anger with suspicion, and urge us to lay aside anger
in order to act calmly, clearly and compassionately.
I must confess that my reaction to all that has happened has
not been anger, but sadness. For a brief moment Tuesday evening, as I viewed the television coverage of the carnage, I felt
a glimmer of anger, to be sure. All that happened deeply disturbs me. But, for the most part, from the beginning, I have simply
felt an incredible sadness at the death and destruction, and also much of what has followed in the wake of this event. Violence
begets violence, which has surfaced in many forms: kneejerk calls for massive retaliation, words of hatred, paranoia spred
on the internet, prejudice, hostility toward Muslims and other arabs (and even other foreign people of color). When these
things happen, evil triumphs.
Yet, there is something else at work in us, which I believe is truer to who
we are than the presence of this evil. It strikes me that once this event happened, many people sought to reach out to others,
first their loved ones,and coworkers, but others as well. The way people drew closer
and cared for each other, the way
people have sought to strengthen and encourage each other is beautiful, and transcends differences, which seem to drop away.
People buried in rubble do not ask if the rescuer is Christian, Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist; white, black or asian, young or
old, male or female, gay, lesbian or heterosexual, rich or poor. I have seen people seek closeness to others in the past
few days, a closeness we often ignore. There is something here for us to contemplate. This unity in
compassion seems
to be written in our genes, by a loving and guiding Presence. If God made us this way and showed us such incredible love in
Jesus, should we not seek to be the people God has made us to be? I believe that as people of faith and love, we have something
different to offer the world. This is a time for us to be caring, to be calm, to love and encourage, to promote respect for
others, to work for justice instead of revenge, and to seek a community based on love and understanding. May God guide us
and help us to do these things without fear, and with gratitude in our hearts.
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